We used the semi rigid plastic round pool, the small one, about $6.00??? It has a design on the bottom that is big enough for puppies to go to the lower level, but not big enough for the Mom to sit there without also sitting on the higher level. The sides are also unlevel. I wish I could explain this better, but it is like corrugated cardboard design and gives when Mom is lying against the side. So Mom cannot trap them against the side. I bought some marine carpet remnants and cut them into squares that are just slightly bigger than the pool. Squares work better than the round fitted bottom. Puppies can't get underneath it. It is washable and dries fast. This is the only thing we found that Mom won't dig up and leave the puppies on the plastic. We heat with a heating pad on the lowest setting underneath the pool. The heating pad heats not only the pool, but also the carpet which helps to hold the heat. We use the big heating pad. There is room for the puppies and Mom to move away from or to the heat. We use a 24" Xpen around the pool, to keep Mom in and cover the Xpen with a sheet for drafts. We have electric heat with ceiling vents that blow down and can chill. The mother and puppies are always in our bedroom and we have a baby monitor for when we are out of the room.
I know this is a trying time. But in about a week the puppy will be big enough to be uncomfortable to sit on and will be able to move better and Mom will catch on. She just has to learn and can't read those books about motherhood. Donna Burdett Eldee Cavaliers ========================================================= "Magic Commands": to stop receiving mail for awhile, click here and send the email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20NOMAIL to start it up gain click here: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20MAIL E-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] for assistance. Search the Archives... http://apple.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ckcs-l.html All e-mail sent through CKCS-L is Copyright 2002 by its original author.
